The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-25

to me. thinking, perhaps, that I did not TAX
part in the general mirth at his expense. / an
afraid he mistaken Besides that, tn
second lieutenant of his company grea
friend of mine and / was anxious to see bar OF
his shoulder-straps l should say that l wa
probably the only man in the command who
was familiar with the appearance and Location
of the little Kentucky town which was rea
destination. 1t was hoped that would reacl
it about daylight of the 10Th and defeat or per
haps capture force of the enemy supposed tx
be stationed there. The colonel was ambition:
and would spare effort
''After our little carousal-which was not ex
tensive enough to produce any unpleasant re
sults-I looked over matters to if 1 had for
gotten any duty. and turned in on bed of cedar
boughs with a saddle for pillow. / was
awakened by some one shaking me and calling
my name in excited tones. l my feet
in an instant and rushed to the opening in the
tent to what the matter. 1t was
beautiful night-the moon nearlyat the full. the
air crisp, cool and clear. the camp silent save
for the tread of the sentinels and the occasional
paving of the horses picketed in their places
The camp fires were burning low and l could see
the rows of men sleeping on their arms nea1
their impromptu Christmas decorations.
whats the matter Bridges2' I asked i'm
patiently. He came out into the moonlight and
/ could see that his face was pinched and drawn
with agony. He looked ten years older than
when 1 babe him good night few hours before.
was really alarmed, and asked anxiously if
he were i'll.
"'Oh, am well enough he answered with
more composure than l had given him credit
for but have had such a horrible dream-no,
not dream but vision
''How kept from laughing in his face do
not know. But indeed his agony was pitiful
and felt almost awed by it, At least 1 felt a
sort of sympathy for him, though indeed it was
an odd idea that soldier should stand there in
the moonlight. his face showing pale through
the fingers clasped over it and his voice husky
with excitement because he had had bad
dream. I remember thinking that many of the
poor fellows wrapped in their blankets there
might very well have troubled visions if they
We're clairvoyant in their sleep. However,
mastered the inclination to laugh and to sneer,
and opening a little flask of brandy which
kept for special occasions, I poured some into a
tin cup and holding it to his lips told him to
drink His teeth fairly chartered as he drank
it off: / gave him a camp stool. took another
myself and waited for him to recover his
equanimity. After while he said:
's'You are very kind lieutenant. 1t is silly
no doubt. don't know how 1 came to be SO
affected. don't believe am a coward. but it
was so realise terribly real wouldn't mind
it myself really would not, he repeated pro
testingly. don't wish to die, but 1 would
never think of being troubled about it in this
way, if it was not for my Wife. You don't know
her, lieutenant. 1t would kill her. You don't
know how her life is bound up in mine It's
not any common case. I've been father and
lover and husband and savior, all to the poor
girl. took her out OF the street-no, not out of
the street, out of the very shadow of death.
when she was but child, reared, educated and
loved her all the time with the double love of
father and husband. / would never have mar
rleO ner lnOuSn-neVer, IL she naQn insisted
upon it before I came away. She was sure l
would be hurt-killed perhaps and she wanted
to be as near to she could come. l knew
it was foolish. ought not to have married her.
Why, she's only seventeen and am forty-a
grey beard, too. That's what the boys call me
sometimes, and they are right. l was not
worthy of her-never can be, but love her,
and she wOrShipS met would make Won
ashamed if you could see her letters to me- /
am the pinnacle of the worlds life and worth in
her eyes. know 1 don't deserve it and ought
not to have let her get such foolish idea In
truth, did nothing to encourage it-but-but L
loved her and could not dispel her illusion
could nowF
But what has this to do with your dream,
MANI
'.Ah yes-my dream cried he with a shud-
der. Well, it wasn't dream you see at all, for
wasn't asleep. l had been lying down looking
up at the stars and thinking of Emily-wonder-
ing how she was getting on. you know, and
fearing she unhappy. The truth is, 1 don'ts
think of much else. I'm old fool suppose
but I simply can't help it. Remember I've car
RED her in my heart ever since she was four
years old, lieutenant and it has been the one
Joy of my heart to think and do for her. I'm
not a coward nor neglectful of my duty but
how can help it if her image is before my eyes
all the timel Well, l grow so anxious about
her that got up and sat by the fire with my
back against the stump of a saplingthe boys had
tut down for wood. Presently, while 1 sat j
there looking at the fire and at the shadows in
he woods in front of our camp, it all disap-
leared and instead of it saw town perched on /
Town to river, which swept around the whole
so that the town stood on promontory iutting
nut into the river. which was crossed by rail
Dad bridge below the town, while the hill that
'ose above it had a pine grove and some sort
If an earthwork running along its crest
Did you ever see the place before L asked in
surprise. / was sure he had not.
- That's one of the queer things about it he
answered. am sure never such a place
before. and yet seemed to know every foot of
round. There had been a battle there 7
that don't know hOyy-wa baH hao in,
possession of the rairoad-the enemy had driv-
n us back through the town and fired the
fridge. We made stand here and there. 1t
lont seem as If it were our men exactly and vet
must have been he said simply. I wouldn't |
ave been fighting with any other force, wo uld
"'You wouldn't be likely to be- said.
though of course, that is possible
:. Yes, of course he assented. We'll. as / |
aid there were some graves along the side of |
he hill just below the edge of the pines and in |
ide the line of works BY the way, there was |
fort something of that kind on the point |
bove the town. l seemed to be looking on at |
o camps around, but just those red graves on |
he hillside with rough headboards at each. Ev- |
rything was just still and quiet as death. |
he sun shining brightly and the grass was |
resi- and green as it is in the early spring some |
ines.
g While was wondering at this saw wom-
n standing at ono of the graves. She was |
owed and her back was towards me, you see |
ut knew it was Emily, and knew she was |
lone in the world Somehow was not sur
rised. but wondered where l was and why
ne wearing a widows weeds
. All at once she looked back over her Shout
er, pressed her hand to her heart and 1 saw
nat her eyes We're wild-crazed with much suf-
sring. l knew that in an instant but did not
eem to understand it until I read the headboard
hich she disclosed as she turned around. 1t
cad:
u. S. Bridges
Lieut.-Ind. Vols.
Killed in action at
willie, Ky,
90 of Dec, 1S6-.'
4 did not get the date because her figure
ID part of the inscription from me. I saw
lough though. 1 knew l had been killed in
attic and that Emily crazed with grief at
sr bereavement. Remember. l did not dream
lis but saw it. I know the vision will be full
led, too don't mind about myself, didn't
len. l didn't mind having died / think 1 was
lther glad to be dead, except for Emily
'uldn't bear that she should suffer-that her
9ung life should be destroyed, her brain crazed
it'll sorrown
% My God Bridges said L, how did you learn
here we are goingP